Rim tool



July 29,1930. J. A. PATTERSON A 1,771,360.

RIM TOOL Filed Sept. 25, 1929 x/O/ZZZ Paltcnson ends in their original abutment.

Patented July 2%,1939

nurses nrr eras enn A. ralr'rnnsou, or VILLAVPIARK, ILLINOIS i RIM IQOL Application filed s puambraafieze: Serial No. 394,978.

This inventionrelatcs to improvements in Y a rim tool, and more particularlyto rim tool of a type highlydesirable for moving theends ofa rim designed to support pneumatic 5; tires to and fromoverlapping position', al-

though the device may be used for usting any form of resilient band or in manyother and various ways as willbe apparent to one skilled in the art. 7

The present invention has been designed to provide a rim tool which may be readily; and easily inserted,betweenadjacent ends'of a rim, and can be'operated in such a manner that a s1ngle motion of the tool is'suiiicient to overlap the ends ofa rim orto restore these This invention also seeks the provision of a rim tool embodying only a single member which is capable of-being manipulated in one operation to overlapor expand the ends of arim, or somesimilar resilient band;

Still another object of the present-inven tion is to provide a rim tool which nay be easily and readilyinserted between adjacent ends of a rim without being interfered with in any manner or necessitating any adjustments by and with relation to the lug and projection commonly provided on the rim, the tool also being shaped to permit very expeditious actuation thereof, at the same time leaving an abundance of room for the hands of the operator.

While some of the more salient features,

characteristics, and advantages of a device each of which; 1s preferably formed with a embodying principles of this invention have been above pointed out, others will become apparent from the following disclosure.

The invention includesthese and other features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter described, and shown in a preferred form in the drawings, as more pari having an inwardly curled. run 16 adjacent the outer extremity thereof; This portion is in the natureof a commonly known tire ticularly indicated by the claim;

On the drawings Figure 1. is a fragmentary view in elevation of a rim and tire showing an implement embodying principles of the present invention in operative association with overlapped ends of the rim, and indicating the operation of I I j and efi'ective. j ,Assummgnow that the ends 8 the implement.

position of substantial embodlment of the PI'QSQIltlIlVQIliZlOIl,tllGTe'lS holding this tirein proper position. Tliejrim 7 is shown withits respective ends 8 and 9 ,in overlapping position just prior tovthe e;r- .pandingof these endsinto their normal posi- I ,ti'on where theysubstantially abut each other suitably aperture'd for engaging over the projection 1 0. i

Figure 2. is a fragmentary bottom, plan view of the central portion of the structure shown in Figure 1, with the implement in a slightly different position, l y

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary side. elevational view of an implement embodying principles of this invention.

' Figure this an enlarged fragmentarytop plan viewof the instrument shown in Fig- I .1 Figureb is a vertical sectional viewof the rim, tire and implement-in inverted position,

"taken substantially as indicated by th zli :V- V ofFigure 2. a 1 I As shownon the drawings: In the structure selected to illustrate ,an v

shown a; common form of-pneumatic tire6 and the customary res1l1entmetall1c rim 7 for and securely hold the tire thereon. f The end 7 8 of the rim 7 is provided with the customary inwardQprojection-lO, and the end 9 of the rim, is provided, with the customary lug 11 The illustratedembodiment of the, present invention. lncludesa rim tool comprising a curved or'arcuate shank l2 terminating at one end thereof in a-forlzed or bifurcated end in the nature of a palr of spaced prongs 153,

fiat nose or sharpened as indicated atl l.

These prongs 13-are preferably a continuation of the curvature orarcuate formationof theshank12. r

7 At the'oppositeend thereof, the shank 12 terminates in a flattened web-like portion 15 tool for aiding in the removal of a tire from In operation, the presentjinvention is; extremely simple, though none the less positive iii) - overlapped.

apnea") and 9 of the rim are in overlapped position as seen in Figure 1, the tire 6 having been just placed therearound and that it is desired to expand the rim ends into their substantially abutting position for properly holding the tire, it is simply necessary to insert the prongs 13 of the rim tool between the overlapping ends of the rim in the position indicated by the dotted lines at the leftzof Figure 1; It will be noted that prongs l3 effectively straddle the projection on the end 8 and the lug 11 on the end 9 of the rim, so that these portions afford no opposition whatever to the manipulation of the rim tool, and any adjustments relative to these portions are totally eliminated in the present invention. The forward portions of the prongs 13 engage the ends of the rim end 8, and the edge of the rim end 9 is engaged by theprongs at a more rearward point. It is, therefore, apparent that a short movement ofthe tool, substantially to the full line position in Figure 1 is sufficient to establish a'positive connection between the tool and rim ends, and -a" continuation of this movement to the position shown by the dotted lines to the right in Figure l is sufficient to forcethe rim ends into'position for substantially abutting each other, as indicated by the dotted lines of the rim end 9. hen the rim ends have assumed this position, due to the manipulation of the tool, it'is' a simple expedient, due to the sharpened tips 14 of the prongs, to remove the tool, the 111g 11 properly engaging the projectionlO simultaneously with the removal of the tool, Of course, this entire operation is very simply and expeditiously done, it being substantially only a sin gle motion with the tool. In other words, it is simply necessary for the operator to grasp the shank 12, jam the prongs between the overlapped endsof the r'i1n,'an'd swing the tool to the right in Figure l to expand the rim ends into normal position for holding the tire.

In the event it is desired to move the rim ends from their normal substantially abutting position into the overlapped position, it is simply necessary to force the sharpened ends '14 of the prongs 13 between'the rim ends and actuate the tool in the reverse of the just previously described manner, continually forcing the tool inwardly until the'rim ends have It might be well to also mention at this point that in some cases it is foundexpedient to utilize the flattened portion15 at the opposite end of the shank 12 for moving the rim ends into their overlapped position. This is simply accomplished by inserting the inwardly bent end 16 of the portion'15'between the rim ends and prying the endsapart with the tool. 1

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that I have provideda rim tool capablejof readily, easily, and very'rapidly expanding'or overlapping the ends ofa resilient metal band or rim. Moreover, the tool is extremely light in weight, may be manipulated with great facility, and reduces the danger of injury either to the tire, inner tube, or rim to a minimum, Furthermore, this device is very durable, may be made in one piece, and can be economically manufactured.

I am aware that numerous details of construction may be varied through a wide range Without departing from the principles of this invention, and I, therefore, do not purpose limiting the patent granted, otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

' I claim:

As an article of manufacture, a rim tool for restoring overlapped ends of a circular rim to their normal substantially abutting position comprising a shank and handle portion and spaced furcations on an end of said shank portion formed with a sufficient distance separatingthem as to enable them to straddle a lug 0n anend of said rim, overlapping the other end of the rim, each of said furcations having its free end formed so as to present a thin portion for insertionbetween said overlapping rim ends. whereby the leverage of said shank portion may be, utilized upon a single motion of said shank por tion to pry said overlapping end into its normal position, said shank portion and furcations being curved and their curvature being such that the tool will be out of parallel with the circle of the rim when said furcations are inserted between the overlapping rim ends and whereby the furcations may, be inserted with facility between said rim ends.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto. subscribfed my name at Villa Park, Du Page County, Illinois.

" JOHN A. PATTERSON; 

